AMRITSAR: In a major political controversy in Punjab, Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, District Manager of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation posted at Amritsar, allegedly committed suicide after being pressured by Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar.
Following the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann sought the resignation of the minister and ordered a probe into the matter. The Chief Minister directed the Chief Secretary of Punjab to conduct a detailed inquiry into the circumstances that led to the officer’s death.
The Chief Minister termed the incident unfortunate and said that the suicide of a district manager-level officer was a serious matter and not the mandate or governance model of the Aam Aadmi Party government. He said accountability would be fixed after the inquiry and strict action would be taken if anyone was found responsible for harassment or misuse of authority.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa demanded registration of a murder case against former minister Laljit Bhullar on the basis of the alleged dying statement of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, who was widely known as an honest officer.
Bajwa alleged that Randhawa was summoned by Laljit Bhullar to his residence where he was allegedly beaten up for not granting a tender in the name of the minister’s father. He said the matter should be investigated as a case of abetment to suicide or murder and not treated as a routine suicide case.
The incident has triggered a major political storm in Punjab, with opposition parties accusing the state government of political interference in administrative matters and pressuring officers for illegal favours.
The inquiry ordered by the Chief Minister is expected to determine the exact circumstances that led to the death of the officer and whether any political pressure or misconduct was involved.